I followed Olivia up the stairs and into the living room. She released my hand and ventured into the kitchen to help my mom.<\/p>\n
I walked into the living room to find Thomas and my dad both frowning over the chess game. Neither one was moving.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsaac, son.\u201d My dad said. \u201cYoung Thomas here is one hell of a chess player! He\u2019s already beat me three games out of three.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d I answered. \u201cThat\u2019s why I won\u2019t play with him. I know better.\u201d I replied, plopping down on the sofa.<\/p>\n
Dad chuckled delightedly. He was content to have a worthy opponent to play chess with.<\/p>\n
Thomas moved one of his pieces. \u201cCheck-mate in six.\u201d He announced proudly.<\/p>\n
Dad\u2019s smile faded into a deep frown.<\/p>\n
I smirked. \u201cGood job. Thomas, want a coke or anything, man?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo thanks.\u201d He replied distractedly.<\/p>\n
I glanced toward Taylor who was distractedly munching on cheesies from a bowl. He was watching a lame movie. He had a sinister smirk on his face.<\/p>\n
I rolled my eyes and stood up, walking into the kitchen. I found Olivia leaning against the kitchen island with a cookbook open in front of her. My mother was basting a turkey.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, a turkey? You know Olivia doesn\u2019t eat meat\u2026\u201d I rolled my eyes.<\/p>\n
Before my mom could argue, Olivia smiled up at me. \u201cIt\u2019s okay.\u201d She insisted. \u201cI\u2019m going to make a vegetarian alternative. You\u2019ll try it, won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cOf course, Liv.\u201d I smiled at her.<\/p>\n
When my mom turned back to the turkey, Olivia stood on her toes and nestled a silent, private kiss against my cheek. I moved my arm around her and hugged her to my side for a brief moment before releasing her. \u201cDo you want anything to drink, Olivia?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019m okay. Your mother made tea.\u201d She smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cCool.\u201d I opened the fridge and removed a can of coke. I popped open the tab and plopped down at the kitchen table. My mother had placed out a tray of veggies and dip, and I chewed at a piece of celery.<\/p>\n
I watched Olivia pick through her book of recipes, frowning.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could make your vegetarian lasagna. It\u2019s delicious.\u201d I suggested.<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled up at me.<\/p>\n
My mom laughed softly. \u201cI find it hard to believe that you would eat anything vegetarian.\u201d She turned to Olivia. \u201cMy boys would eat steak with cereal if I\u2019d let them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer lasagna is amazing. I can\u2019t even tell I\u2019m not eating meat.\u201d I shrugged, reaching for a slice of green pepper.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t really go well with turkey, though\u2026 I could make a vegetarian chili, but that doesn\u2019t really go well with turkey either\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHoney, you can make whatever you want to. It doesn\u2019t matter if it doesn\u2019t go with the turkey or not.\u201d My mom insisted. \u201cMake whatever your heart desires.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia moistened her lips, and the urge to kiss her resurfaced.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could make a vegetarian pizza. That\u2019s good too.\u201d I suggested, trying to be helpful.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had that the other night, though.\u201d Her perfect lips pushed out into a pout.<\/p>\n
She turned the page in her cookbook. \u201cOh! I could make these. They\u2019re stuffed peppers with chickpeas and feta cheese\u2026 do you have many green peppers?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHmmm\u2026 I have a couple.\u201d My mom mused. \u201cBut there\u2019s a grocery store down the street, Isaac could go with you and direct you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly this seemed like the best idea on the planet. \u201cYeah, sounds great.\u201d I stood up from the chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d Olivia asked. \u201cYou don\u2019t need any help with anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, honey, it\u2019s okay. I have everything under control.\u201d My mom smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan we bring you back anything?\u201d Olivia asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t need anything, but thank you for offering\u2026 I\u2019ll pay for whatever you need at the store, let me get my purse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, no. It\u2019s okay, Diana.\u201d Olivia smiled sweetly. \u201cIt\u2019ll be my contribution to dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her smile was so sweet and unwavering, my mother was convinced, and didn\u2019t argue.<\/p>\n
I took Olivia\u2019s hand and led her out of the kitchen. I helped her with her coat and yanked on my shoes and jacket.<\/p>\n
I stopped her on the porch. \u201cWait, Liv. Just one thing we have to do before we go.\u201d<\/p>\n
I cupped her face between my hands and kissed her.<\/p>\n
She returned my kisses deeply. After several seconds, I broke the kiss slowly.<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled. \u201cSo that\u2019s why you were so eager to get out of there.\u201d She beamed at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh-huh.\u201d I grinned, bending and kissing her again.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed. \u201cOkay, let\u2019s go to the store and get back before Thomas notices that we left him. And before any of your family come out and catch us.\u201d She smiled sweetly and pushed past me.<\/p>\n
I smirked, following her out to her father\u2019s car.<\/p>\n
She unlocked the doors and I climbed into the passenger\u2019s seat. Olivia climbed into the driver\u2019s side, and started the car before fastening her seatbelt.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow far is the grocery store from here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree blocks, I think?\u201d I mused. \u201cIt\u2019s not far.\u201d<\/p>\n
I squinted, and tried to remember the last time I drove to the grocery store. I was sure I\u2019d driven this distance a million times, but everything was simply a blur.<\/p>\n
Olivia backed from the driveway. \u201cLeft or right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLeft.\u201d I replied, hoping I remembered correctly.<\/p>\n
I did vividly remember driving to this particular grocery store at four in the morning after a bad trip and a severe case of the munchies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt should be just up here on the right.\u201d I said after a couple of minutes.<\/p>\n
Olivia pulled into the grocery store parking lot, finding a space near the door. The place looked relatively deserted.<\/p>\n
I followed her into the store, watching as she immediately went to the produce section and reached for a plastic bag.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny color of peppers or just the green ones?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny color.\u201d She smiled up at me. \u201cI also need brown rice, and feta cheese\u2026 zucchini, garlic\u2014fresh not the packaged one.\u201d She ticked off the items on her fingers from memory. \u201cI need a couple of tomatoes, and\u2026 oh, two cans of chick peas.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned. \u201cOkay, to be honest I only know what about half of those things are\u2026\u201d I began.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly. \u201cOkay, how about you get the tomatoes, green peppers, and garlic. I\u2019ll go and get everything else, okay? She said with a laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds good. That I can do.\u201d I mused. \u201cHow many green peppers?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUmm\u2026 ten.\u201d She decided.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd how many tomatoes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFour.\u201d She smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd garlic?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne.\u201d She laughed. \u201cJust make an executive decision, okay?\u201d She stood on her toes and lightly kissed my cheek. \u201cWe\u2019ll meet at the check outs in five minutes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDeal.\u201d I smirked.<\/p>\n